SMWS Caol ila 53.234
Mashtun notes:
Talk about an opinion splitter! This one really spit the panel. We are all ‘Peat fiends’ and huge fans of Caol ila, as well as the SMWS, but this caused some ‘debate’. On the nose we got salty brine, peat, cherry pie, medicinal notes, sulphur, and hay bales. The palate is salty, spicy, and fruity like a rich Christmas cake that has been on fire. The finish is peaty, salty, sweet, and savoury, with hints of orange and cognac. It has a light golden colour, and soft but fiery mouthfeel. Letting this dram breathe brings out seaweed on the nose and cloves on the palate. At 64.1% it does need water to get past the alcohol. One of the few things we agreed on was that water lightened the nose and opened up the palate. It is a difficult one to call, and isn’t for the feint hearted. If you don’t like peated whisky you should avoid at all costs.
This is a fiery offering from the SMWS and it may not be to everyone’s taste, however; two out of the three panellists found merit with it, and one absolutely loved it. Handle with care, but if you can handle it, and give it enough time, you may find yourself going back for more.
SMWS Caol ila 53.234
Smoke without fire - There was a lot of smoke but without the fire; smoked bacon, smoked sea salt, hot and cold smoked salmon, smoked mackerel pate, smoked scallops and smoked brown sugar. The taste neat had some chilli heat, some sweet fruity sangria and, what should not be coming as a surprise, plenty of big, deep and penetrating smoke with some crackling homemade pork scratchings in the finish. Water released smoked plum lemonade (grilling the lemons before adding them), smoked apple chutney as well as Arbroath smokies with cream and mustard, while on the palate a never ending sweet smoke and savoury chilli heat sensation.
Notes: 64.1% ABV – Ex Bourbon cask, 270 bottles, and distilled in November 1999. £79 per bottle at time of tasting.
SMWS Caol ila 53.234
Nose:
Musty and clinical (almost like a doctor’s office) with cloves and smoke
Palate:
Spicy and slightly sharp with fruit and bonfires!
Finish:
Smokey and Cognac like with orange and bourbon
Colour:
Light
Texture:
Light and soft
Air:
Brings out more cloves
Water:
Lightens the nose and brings out sweet and floral notes on the palate
Overall comments:
A cracking ‘ballsy’ fiery offering from the SMWS. This packs a punch, is full of spices and smoke, and may not be to everyone’s taste. I love it though!
SMWS Caol ila 53.234
Nose:
Intense smoke from a bonfire mixed with cherry pie, hot tarmac and engine oil, hay bales
Palate:
Dense, a Christmas cake on fire
Finish:
Sweet and savoury aftertaste, leaves tannins on the tongue
Colour:
Light
Texture:
Soft mouthfeel with fiery spice.
Air:
Not a lot
Water:
Needs a fair amount of water to get past the alcohol burn.
Overall comments:
A smoke-out for the palate but packed densely with fruit flavours, almost a dessert whisky (if you like your dessert burned to a crisp).
SMWS Caol ila 53.234
Nose:
Salty brine with big hints of peat and one hell of a nose burn. Very medicinal and has hints of matchsticks
Palate:
Salty with very little hints of the bourbon cask
Finish:
Salt, salt, and salt…
Colour:
Light gold
Texture:
Light.
Air:
Brings out iodine and seaweed on the nose.
Water:
Does nothing to the nose but helps palate
Overall comments:
If you are not a fan of peaty drams don’t go for this. Just a little too much peat for me which surprised me.
